Chapter 14: The most important thing
Fluttershy watched from her cushion as Discord ranted and paced in front of her. He'd been telling her about the other day, and how just moments after she'd left Queen Celestia had come by to have a talk with him. Apparently, she'd been receiving numerous complaints about his behavior and the pranks he pulled on the students. She'd went to talk Discord into containing his chaos in his own class room and to not use it on the students.
"Just who does that mare think she is?!"
"Um, the queen?"
"That's beside the point. I've already toned down most of my chaotic quirks, and now she comes and expects me to further contain myself. If she really wants me to reform," he said making air quotes. "Then she start by giving me a good reason. Other than going back to being stone." It was clear that a nerve had been struck. Fluttershy said in the calmest tone possible:
"She's probably trying to appease both sides. If she ignores your pranks, the princesses might demand that you leave. They might even get their parents to help side with them, and what a disaster that would be." Discord just rolled his eyes.
"Please, Celestia just wants to rub the fact that she has me under her hoof in my face. Ugh! I feel sick just saying that." The Draconequus leaned into his seat, his arm draped over his head in a dramatic way. Fluttershy couldn't help but find it similar to Rarity's own dramatic outbursts.
Discord heaved another sigh and turned to Fluttershy. "I hope you can forgive my outburst my dear, I've been going stir crazy around here with all these limitations."
"I don't mind," said Fluttershy, "anypony would get uneasy after being cooped up for so long." Discord nodded in agreement.
"Finally somepony understands. Now if only the queen and that sister of hers could be just as understanding as you."
"They can't be that bad. They gave you a second chance didn't they?"
"If you can even call it that. Stuck in a castle with all this power going to waste, teaching a bunch of stuck up royal snobs." His eyes darted to Fluttershy and he added. "Except you of course. You're nothing like those other ponies."
Fluttershy faced him, fidgeting with her hooves as she tried to get out her question.
"What would you do, if you were free to leave and go outside the castle?" Discord stroked his goatee as he thought of an appropriate answer. He couldn't very well tell her of his plans to spread his chaotic might across the land, stretching out the potential of his powers that had too long be restrained. But other than that, he couldn't think of anything.
"I don't really know." he said. "But I enjoy making things up as I go, so it's not too big a deal." He lowered his eyes at her, "Why do you ask?"
Fluttershy stammered, "O-oh, n-no reason. Just curious." She cracked a nervous smile. Discord decided to leave the subject alone, for now, and changed the conversation.
"I've heard that Princess Twilight has been teaching you some of her magic tricks."
"Only a little, I still have a lot to learn before I can reach her level of skill." said Fluttershy modestly.
"Why don't you give me a little demonstration?" asked Discord.
"Right now?" Fluttershy began to feel the anxiety creep into her throat.
"It shouldn't be that big a deal, you used in my class after all no problem." said Discord, trying to calm done the pegasus.
"That was different. I wasn't really thinking about all that much. What if something goes wrong? What if-?" Discord put a finger to her lips to silence her.
"You need to stop worrying so much my dear." he said. "It's unhealthy." Fluttershy could see that she wasn't going to change his mind.
"Alright." she said, giving in. "But don't say I didn't warn you." She focused on the vase that sat on a nearby shelf, her eyes glowing as she lifted it (with a bit of effort) into the air before her concentration gave out.
"It's a start." Discord commented.
"Just tell me the truth," sighed Fluttershy. "I'm terrible at magic."
"I wouldn't say terrible, more magically challenged."
"That sounds even worse." moaned Fluttershy.
"Not at all Fluttershy. If anything, it means you can only get better." he said encouragingly. "There'll probably be a lot of mishaps, but still, you'll get better from it." Fluttershy cracked a nervous smile. She could tell Discord was trying to lighten her mood, in his own way.
"Thank you Discord...I guess." Discord was going to talk some more, when the classroom door opened and in came Twilight Sparkle.
"Fluttershy! I've been looking all over for you, we were supposed to continue practicing those shield spells, remember?"
"Oh dear, I forgot. Give me second Twilight." Fluttershy turned to Discord. "I hope you don't mind, but I need to get going."
"Not at all Fluttershy, not at all. You go on and do what needs to be done." Discord waved goodbye as Fluttershy and Twilight left. He made the two seats disappear and sat down at his desk. Fluttershy's question still plagued his mind. What else was there besides his chaos? His eyes drifted about the room as he was lost in thought. They landed on the vase Fluttershy tried to levitate. 'Perhaps I could take time off and enjoy a nice outing with Fluttershy.' he thought. His imagined the new and improved Equestria, with him and Fluttershy having a picnic during a chaotic but otherwise pleasant afternoon. She'd proved herself to be a good friend, who didn't seem to mind his...quirks. Yes, she was a good friend. His first and only friend, but a friend nonetheless. She put up with him, and honestly seemed to care about him. Something nopony had ever done for him. The warm feeling he'd felt once before returned. He ignored it once more. But deep in his mind and his heart, he'd found the most important thing any creature could ever want, though he himself didn't know it. He'd found friendship, in a shy little pegasus.